Here are 7 people or things that I’m looking forward to in the upcoming year.

#1. My friend Chris Thurman’s new business venture: Visual Swirl. Chris is a web, video, and graphics creator who does great work.

#2. The XXX Church’s Organizational guy, Ryan Russell, has a site called RedbikeLeader. Ryan has a passion for helping develop young leaders and his site is aimed at doing just that. (*disclaimer: I sometimes write for Redbike)

#3. There will finally be a new Muppets Movie in 2011.

#4. Robby Wheeler and his family will move to Guatemala this year to work with an Orphanage. This has been on he and his wife’s heart for many years and in a month or two they’ll relocate and begin work. You can follow them here.

#5. My friend Matt McFarren has a blog and he writes about how he balances his faith, his job, and his family.

#6. This year, I and Mike Idle will engage in a lifestyle competition. I fully expect to win. Stay tuned for details.

#7. My brother’s band, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, are recording a new album in January and you can help them by visiting their site here.